Archery officials seek clarity from Griffith

ALTHOUGH crossbows are not used for sport or practice by the TT Archery Federation (TTAF) and its member clubs, executive members of the National Sporting Organisation are planning to meet Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith to discuss the recently-announced ban on the weapon and any possible implications it may have on the importation of archery gear.

An immediate ban on the importation of crossbows was announced during the TT Police Service’s weekly press briefing on Tuesday.

According to the TTAF, its clubs and members have imported archery bows and arrows using a regular process of obtaining permission for clearance from the commissioner. They hope talks with him will erase any ambiguity and help avoid any potential obstacles in the future.

National archer and vice-president of the TTAF Hasmath Ali said, “We plan to have a meeting with the commissioner to discuss it (the ban) further and see how it will impact on the federation and the clubs. “All in all, we understand the direction that the Ministry of National Security is working toward and we are there to support them. If it is that in the past we’ve been accustomed to clearing equipment through the commissioner’s office then we will continue to do it that way.”

She added, “Up to recently, if we had to bring in archery equipment – in particular bows and arrows – they (customs) would have requested letters from the federation together with letters from the commissioners’ office... We expect nothing much will change.”

Ali, who is also president of Central Precision Archery Club, said they are keen to comply with any requirements the ministry has.

TTAF president Gregory Quesnel said the process to import equipment for archery has been tedious in the past but has improved recently. He said there should be clarity as it pertains to the status of the ban for those who already own a crossbow. “It is only now illegal. Is the ban retroactive? What is the status of those who already have one?” Quesnel asked.